What Do You Do About Verbal Abuse from Patients/Residents?

[Luv2banurse2004]

After being called an expletive and hearing resident say they hated me,etc. and yelling at me in my office (in presence of another staff member) I calmly referred individual to my super. This person stayed right there yelling so I walked off and went directly to super. to address situation. Super. takes resident in private office and asked that I not be present but called in employee who witnessed incident. Anyway, not first time w/this person--I have caught them lying on me about things I didn't say or do before. I am not tolerable of verbal abuse by a person who is mentally competent and knows exactly what they are doing. For some reason though, I think it will just be swept under the rug b/c after mtg w/the resident my supervisor did not mention anything else about it to me. I've got the whole thing in writing--since I will be leaving this company this week I just refuse to stress over it.

Anyway--how do you/your company handle verbal abuse by patients/residents?

[TazziRN, RN]

To be honest, I'm not sure how it would be handled by admin, but our doctors have stepped in and told pts they are not to talk to the nursing staff like that. Me.....I have spoken up for myself and said I will not tolerate being sworn at. if it continues I talk to my coworker about switching patients.

[LoriAlabamaRN]

At my facility, when this happens I document extensively what was said to me by the resident, direct quotes if possible, and what the circumstances were that initiated the conversation. I do this because it is important to have a record of this resident's behavior in case they ever want to take it a step further and make accusations against you. I would also do what you have done and refer the issue to my supervisor. I think you handled it well.